Lakes Region Profiles – A profile of the lakes in NH's Lakes Region

By Frank Roche

President, Roche Realty Group, Inc.

With the start of our summer season, there are so many lakes to explore in NH's beautiful Lakes Region. I thought I would provide a brief profile of the major ones that comprise the area.

Lake Winnipesaukee


Area: 44,568 acres; Max depth: 187 feet; Shoreline: 240 miles
; Location: Alton, Center Harbor, Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro.


Info: Lake Winnipesaukee is NH's largest and most famous lake. It has 72 square miles of surface area, 274 islands and approximately 625 billion gallons of water! Its length is 22.9 miles and its width is 7.5 miles and its average depth is 62 feet. It is a very popular lake for all water sports, with many lakeside restaurants dotting its shoreline. Lake Winnipesaukee is the 6th largest natural lake completely inside US boarders. The largest island on the lake is Long Island (1,186 acres), followed by Bear Island (780 acres), Cow Island (522 acres) and Governors Island (504 acres).

Big Squam Lake


Area: 6,765 acres; Max depth: 98 feet; Shoreline: 60.5 miles; 
Location: Holderness, Center Harbor, Sandwich, Moultonborough.


Info: Squam Lake is New Hampshire's second largest lake with 67 islands to explore. The movie "On Golden Pond" was filmed on this scenic lake. It has a length of 3.7 miles and a width of 3.4 miles.

Lake Winnisquam


Area: 4,264 acres; Max Depth: 154 feet; Shoreline: 28.2 miles; 
Location: Sanbornton, Tilton, Laconia, Meredith, Belmont.


Info: Lake Winnisquam is NH's third largest lake and offers pristine waters, a length of 5.4 miles, a width of 1.7 miles and average depth of 52 feet.

Newfound Lake


Area: 4,105 acres Max depth: 168 feet; Shoreline: 19.8 miles; 
Location: Bristol, Hebron, Alexandria, Bridgewater.


Info: Newfound has a length of 5.7 miles and a width of 2.7 miles, with an average depth of 65 feet. Newfound is one of the cleanest lakes in the United States.

Ossipee Lake


Area: 3,091 acres; Max depth: 73 feet; Shoreline: 10.6 miles; 
Location: Ossipee, Freedom.


Info: Ossipee is moderately developed and many any of the waterfronts have sandy beaches.

Lake Wentworth


Area: 3,018 acres; Max depth: 49 feet; Shoreline: 14 miles; 
Location: Wentworth, Wolfeboro


Info: There are many summer cottages and homes along the shores of Wentworth in the scenic resort town of Wolfeboro, the oldest summer resort in America.

Merrymeeting Lake


Area: 1,111 acres; Max depth: 122 feet; Shoreline: 10.8 miles

Location: New Durham


Info: Merrymeeting Lake feeds into Lake Winnipesaukee and is a very popular destination.

Lake Waukewan 


Area: 912 acres; Max depth: 68 feet; Shoreline: 8.1 miles
; Location: Meredith, New Hampton


Info: Lake Waukewan is 2.1 miles long and has a width of .9 miles. It is Meredith's water supply, featuring clean water and an average depth of 22 feet. Waukewan flows into Meredith Bay of Lake Winnipesaukee through the Inn at Mills Falls.

Webster Lake


Area: 612 acres; Max depth: 40 feet; Shoreline: 4.3 miles
; Location: Franklin.


Info: Webster Lake is a popular quiet lake in Franklin dotted with second and primary homes.

Crystal Lake


Area: 440 acres; Max depth: 51 feet; 
Location: Gilmanton


Info: Crystal Lake flows via the Suncook River into the Merrimack River. This peaceful lake is located in the historic town of Gilmanton and includes a number of vacation properties.

Lake Opechee


Area: 426 acres; Max depth: 65 feet; Shoreline: 5.9 miles
; Location: Laconia


Info: Lake Opechee is 1.9 miles long and is .7 miles wide. Paugus Bay flows into Lake Opechee at the Lakeport Dam and Opechee flows into Lake Winnisquam in downtown Laconia.

Mirror Lake

Area: 377 acres; Max depth: 44 feet; Shoreline: 3.5 miles
; Location: Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro.


Info: Mirror Lake is moderately developed and is heavily wooded.

Lake Kanasatka


Area: 371 acres; Max depth: 30 feet; Shoreline: 5.2 miles; 
Location: Moultonborough


Info: Kanasatka is a peaceful lake with scenic views of Red Hill.

Some of the smaller lakes include: Stinson Lake, Lake Wicwas, White Oak Pond, Pemigewasset Lake, Silver Lake, Rust Pond, Crescent Lake, Hermit Lake, Lake Winona, Shellcamp Lake, Forest Pond, Loon Pond, Duncan Lake, Hawkins Pond, Wakonda Pond and Sawyer Lake.

Whether you love to kayak, windsurf, waterski, or enjoy boating to numerous port towns, our lakes offer a multitude of water sports and recreation to enjoy. Get out and explore the lakes this summer!

Please feel free to visit www.rocherealty.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market. Frank Roche is president of Roche Realty Group in Meredith and Laconia and can be reached at 603-279-7046.